Pilkington Recs 24 Higginshaw 20 RECS recorded a welcome victory against fellow strugglers Higginshaw, to end their season on a high note.

The City Road men exerted all the early pressure with second row men Mike Dennett and Anthony Marsh making good inroads. And the combination of Marsh the provider and Dennett the try scorer that saw Recs cross for the first try. A penalty goal from Marsh, either side of this try, the second a 40 yard effort saw Recs move in to an early 8-0 lead.

More encouragement came as good work on the last tackle involving Price and Marsh saw debutant wingman Giasone Del Farro squeeze in at the corner for a well constructed try. Marsh converted from wide out.

Three minutes from the break the visitors got on the scoresheet with a converted try in the corner.

On the strength of play Recs were expecting to run away with the contest in the second half, however not for the first time this season, that did not transpire.

But they scored the try of the match 10 minutes into the second period when full-back Jamie Hill fielded a bomb, running wide to start a 70-yard counter attack. He fed Marsh whose final pass saw centre Andy Traverse score wide out. But in the following 20 minutes, too many Recs players were found stood with their hands on their hips as the visitors scored two tries, one an interception, one converted to reduce the deficit to just four points.

Recs needed a nerve-settling score and it came following good work from veterans Johnny Smith and Chris Gearing who drove down one side of the field. Good, quick hands saw centre Ste Traverse score on the other flank. Marsh's touchline conversion appeared to put the game out of reach, however sloppy home defending allowed the visitors in again to set up a nail biting final 10 minutes when Recs were just strong enough to hold out.

The Pal-Pak Ltd man of the match award went to Mike Dennett. He was run closely by Anthony Marsh, while wingmen Jeff Albin and Del Farro got through their share of work.

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